Man charged with murder of pregnant partner after body found buried in Mahaica

Twenty-four-year-old Travis James, the man accused of killing his pregnant partner, Kerryann Standiford, reportedly told investigators that she armed herself with a knife, which he managed to take away from her, before he held her by the neck in an attempt to restrain her.

He claimed that after pushing her against a plywood wall, he noticed blood coming from her mouth and realised she was no longer breathing.

James also allegedly told investigators that he dug a shallow grave behind the Chelsea Park, Mahaica house where he rented the lower flat, wrapped Standiford’s body in a red blanket, buried it and covered it with dirt and sand.

James, a porter of Chelsea Park, Mahaica, was on Wednesday charged with the murder of Standiford.

The charge alleges that he murdered Standiford sometime between July 1 and July 10, 2026, at Chelsea Park, Mahaica.

James appeared before the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court, where he was not required to plead to the indictable charge. He was remanded to prison until August 3, 2026, for statements and fixture.

Police said Standiford left her Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara home on July 3 after telling relatives she was travelling to Chelsea Park to visit James. She was never seen alive again.

Her partially decomposed body was discovered in a shallow grave behind the Chelsea Park property on July 10 after investigators responded to reports of a foul odour emanating from the backyard.

Further information gathered by the News Room revealed that during questioning, James participated in a video and audio-recorded interview in which he allegedly recounted the events leading to Standiford’s death.

Police also conducted a video-recorded walkthrough at the alleged crime scene during which James allegedly pointed out where he buried Standiford’s body.

Investigators said he also identified the locations where he placed the spade, bucket, shovel and the knife he claimed had been used by the deceased. During the walkthrough, James allegedly demonstrated how he held Standiford by the neck, indicated where he observed blood coming from her mouth and pointed out where she fell to the ground.

The bucket, knife, shovel and spade were recovered, dusted for fingerprints and lodged as evidence.